AFL Rd 22 2023 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Melbourne

[laj]

Don't think you can draw this conclusion from this statement. 

When looking at a touched call, there are two criteria (a) was it touched and (b) if it was, was it in the field of play, or behind the goal line.  When the field umpire sends it upstairs, I am sure the expectation is that both criteria will be assessed.  I think "Please make sure it was touched in the field" is a simplified way of the umpire requesting that both criteria are checked.

Our saving grace was the soft call from the goalie - if he says not touched, and video evidence can't prove otherwise, criteria (a) is out the window.

I say we train all our backmen  to wiggle all fingers when they are reaching to touch a ball on the goal line.

What the goal umpire is saying is that he definitely touched and wanted to make sure it was in the field of play. As far as the ARC goes, as you said, they check both whether it was touched and if it was whether it was touched in the field of play.